AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION, SEVERANCE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.10-a

NOTICE: THIS CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNIFORM ARBITRATION ACT

AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION,

SEVERANCE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Between

Carolina First Bank and William P. Crawford, Jr.

This Amended and Restated Noncompetition, Severance and Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this February 25, 2008, by and between William P. Crawford, Jr., an individual (the “Executive”), and Carolina First Bank, a South Carolina corporation headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina (the “Company”) and wholly owned subsidiary of The South Financial Group, Inc. (“TSFG”).

RECITALS

The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) believes that the Executive has been instrumental in the success of the Company.

The Company desires to continue to employ the Executive as Executive Vice President – General Counsel of the Company and in such other capacities as the Executive is currently employed as of the date hereof.

The terms hereof are consistent with the executive compensation objectives of the Company as established by the Board.

The Executive is willing to accept the employment contemplated herein under the terms and conditions set forth herein.

This Agreement amends and restates the original agreement between the Executive and TSFG dated April 29, 2002.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

  1.             Employment . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company hereby employs the Executive and Executive hereby accepts such employment as the Executive Vice President – General Counsel of the Company having such duties and responsibilities as are set forth in Section 3 below.

2.            Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below.

“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Annual Base Salary” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

“Annual Bonus Amount” shall mean the average of the annual cash bonuses earned by Executive under any written short-term (i.e. one year) plan (regardless of whether a particular bonus has yet been paid or whether any portion thereof was deferred) as a result of employment by the Company and its affiliates over the three year period immediately preceding the date of termination. In calculating the Annual Bonus Amount: (i) if one of the year’s bonuses in the calculation period was based on a period of less than 12 full months, then such annual bonus amount shall be annualized; (ii) if Executive was employed for less than three years and had not yet earned a bonus in year two and/or year three (as applicable) because Executive was not employed at December 31 of that year, then the Annual Bonus Amount shall be calculated based solely on the years in which Executive was employed at the end of the year; (iii) if Executive shall not have

been employed long enough to earn a cash bonus, then the Annual Bonus Amount will be deemed to be the Executive’s target bonus amount.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of TSFG.

“Cause” shall mean:

(i) In the absence of a Change in Control: (a) fraud; (b) embezzlement; (c) conviction of the Executive of any felony; (d) a material breach of, or the wilful failure or refusal by the Executive to perform and discharge the Executive’s duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement; (e) any act of moral turpitude or wilful misconduct by the Executive intended to result in personal enrichment of the Executive at the expense of the Company, or any of its affiliates or which has a material adverse impact on the business or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates (such determination to be made by the Board in its reasonable judgment); (f) intentional material damage to the property or business of the Company; (g) gross negligence; or (h) the ineligibility of the Executive to perform Executive’s duties because of a ruling, directive or other action by any agency of the United States or any state of the United States having regulatory authority over the Company.

(ii) After a Change in Control: (a) material criminal fraud, (b) gross negligence, (c) material dereliction of duties, (d) intentional material damage to the property or business of the Company, or (e) the commission of a material felony, in each case, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board, but only if (1) the Executive has been provided with written notice of any assertion that there is a basis for termination for cause which notice shall specify in reasonable detail specific facts regarding any such assertion, (2) such written notice is provided to the Executive a reasonable time before the Board meets to consider any possible termination for cause, (3) at or prior to the meeting of the Board to consider the matters described in the written notice, an opportunity is provided to the Executive and Executive’s counsel to be heard before the Board with respect to the matters described in the written notice, (4) any resolution or other Board action held with respect to any deliberation regarding or decision to terminate the Executive for cause is duly adopted by a vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Company at a meeting of the Board called and held and (5) the Executive is promptly provided with a copy of the resolution or other corporate action taken with respect to such termination. No act or failure to act by the Executive shall be considered wilful unless done or omitted to be done by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. The unwillingness of the Executive to accept any or all of a change in the nature or scope of Executive’s position, authorities or duties, a reduction in Executive’s total compensation or benefits, a relocation that he deems unreasonable in light of Executive’s personal circumstances, or other action by or upon request of the Company in respect of Executive’s position, authority, or responsibility that he reasonably deems to be contrary to this Agreement, may not be considered by the Board to be a failure to perform or misconduct by the Executive.

“Change in Control” shall mean:

(i)            when any Person or Persons acting as “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act and within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations thereunder) acquires directly or indirectly, securities of TSFG representing an aggregate of more than 50% of the combined voting power of TSFG’s then outstanding voting securities other than an acquisition by:

(ii)           when a majority of the board of directors of TSFG is replaced during any 12-month period and such new appointments are not approved by a majority of the members of the current board prior to the date of appointment or election; or

(iii)          The consummation of a merger, sale of substantially all assets, consolidation or similar transaction between TSFG and any other corporation other than (A) such a transaction that would result in the voting securities of TSFG outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of any company, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the voting securities of TSFG or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) such a transaction effected to implement a recapitalization of TSFG (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in clause (i) above), directly or indirectly, of securities of TSFG (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from TSFG) representing a majority of the combined voting power of TSFG’s then outstanding voting securities; or (C) a plan of complete liquidation of TSFG.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute, rule or regulation of similar effect.

“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Compensation” shall mean the sum of (i) Executive’s Annual Base Salary (as defined in Section 6.1), and (ii) Executive’s Annual Bonus Amount.

“Competitor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.

“Confidential Information” shall mean all business and other information relating to the business of the Company and its affiliates, including without limitation, technical or nontechnical data, programs, methods, techniques, processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans, and lists of actual or potential customers, which (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other Persons, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy or confidentiality. Such information and compilations of information shall be contractually subject to protection under this Agreement whether or not such information constitutes a trade secret and is separately protectable at law or in equity as a trade secret. Confidential Information shall not include any of the foregoing that does not constitute a trade secret under applicable law two years after any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

“Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months which results in (i) Executive being unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or (ii) Executive receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan (including disability benefits) covering employees of the Company. In addition, Executive will be deemed disabled if determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration, or if determined to be disabled in accordance with a disability insurance program provided the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Executive” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Noncompete Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.

“Involuntary Termination” shall mean the termination of Executive’s employment by the Executive following a Change in Control which, in the sole judgment of the Executive, is due to (i) a change of the Executive’s responsibilities, position (including status as Executive Vice President, Corporate Human Resources Director of the Company, its successor or ultimate parent entity, office, title, reporting relationships or working conditions), authority or duties (including changes resulting from the assignment to

the Executive of any duties inconsistent with Executive’s positions, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control); or (ii) a change in the terms or status (including the rolling three year termination date) of this Agreement; or (iii) a reduction in the Executive’s compensation or benefits; or (iv) a forced relocation of the Executive outside the Greenville metropolitan area; or (v) a significant increase in the Executive’s travel requirements (collectively “Status Changes”); provided, however, Executive must elect to terminate Executive’s employment within two (2) years of the Status Change on which Executive bases Executive’s employment termination.

“Other Benefits” means (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination and (ii) amounts that are vested benefits or that Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any other contract or agreement with the Company or its affiliates (other than this Agreement) at or subsequent to the date of termination in accordance with the terms of such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Other Benefits” shall not include any severance pay or benefits under any severance plan, program or policy of the Company and its affiliates. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive’s resignation under this Agreement for any reason, shall in no way affect the Executive’s ability to terminate employment by reason of the Executive’s “retirement” under any compensation and benefits plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or its affiliates, including without limitation any retirement or pension plans or arrangements or to be eligible to receive benefits under any compensation or benefit plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or its affiliates, including without limitation any retirement or pension plan or arrangement of the Company or its affiliates or substitute plans adopted by the Company or its successors, and any termination which otherwise qualifies as Involuntary Termination shall be treated as such even if it is also a “retirement” for purposes of any such plan.

“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, bank, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

“Vesting Benefits” shall mean the following: (i) all rights of Executive pursuant to equity compensation grants including stock options granted by the Company shall vest and shall be released from all conditions and restrictions, except for restrictions on transfer pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (ii) subject to applicable legal limits to the contrary, including limits applicable to incentive stock options under the Code, Executive shall have the lesser of (a) three years from the date of such termination or (b) until the end of the scheduled term of any such stock option to exercise any outstanding stock options; (iii) Executive shall be entitled to any benefits to which Executive is entitled under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof; and (iv) for three years after Executive’s date of termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, (the “Benefit Continuation Period”), the Company shall continue health care and life insurance benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those that would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies providing health care and life insurance benefits and at the benefit level as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliates and their families; provided , however , that, the health care benefits provided during the Benefit Continuation Period shall be provided in such a manner that such benefits (and the costs and premiums thereof) are excluded from the Executive’s income for federal income tax purposes and, if the Company reasonably determines that providing continued coverage under one or more of its health care benefit plans contemplated herein could be taxable to the Executive, the Company shall provide such benefits at the level required hereby through the purchase of individual insurance coverage; provided, however , that if the Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to receive health care and life insurance benefits under another employer-provided plan, the health care and life benefits provided hereunder shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility.

“Voluntary Termination” shall mean the termination by Executive of Executive’s employment following a Change in Control which is not the result of any of clauses (i) through (v) set forth in the definition of Involuntary Termination above.

3.             Duties . During the Term hereof, the Executive shall have such duties and authority as are typical of the Executive Vice President – General Counsel of a company such as the Company, including, without limitation, those specified in the Company’s Bylaws. Executive agrees that during the Term hereof, he will devote Executive’s full time, attention and energies to the diligent performance of Executive’s duties. Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, at any time during the Term hereof (i) accept employment with, or render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to, any Person other than the Company, (ii) engage in any venture or activity which the Company may in good faith consider to be competitive with or adverse to the business of the Company or of any affiliate of the Company, whether alone, as a partner, or as an officer, director, employee or shareholder or otherwise, except that the ownership of not more than 5% of the stock or other equity interest of any publicly traded corporation or other entity shall not be deemed a violation of this Section, or (iii) engage in any venture or activity which the Board may in good faith consider to interfere with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.

4.              Term . Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a rolling term of three years commencing on the date hereof (the “Term”). This Agreement shall be deemed to extend each day for an additional day automatically without any action on behalf of either party hereto; provided, however, that either party may, by written notice to the other, cause this Agreement to cease to extend automatically and upon such notice, the “Term” of this Agreement shall be the three years following the date of such notice, and this Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of such Term.

5.1       The Company. The Company shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment hereunder at any time during the Term hereof (i) for Cause, (ii) if the Executive becomes Disabled, (iii) upon the Executive’s death, or (iv) without Cause.

5.1.1      If the Company terminates Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to clauses (i) of Section 5.1, the Company’s obligations hereunder shall cease as of the date of termination; provided, however, if Executive is terminated for Cause after a Change in Control, then such termination shall be treated as a Voluntary Termination as contemplated in and subject to the terms of Section 5.2.3 below without the application of Section 5.2.4 below.

5.1.2      If the Company terminates Executive’s employment under this Agreement pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iii) of Section 5.1, the Company’s obligations hereunder shall cease as of the date of termination except that Executive or Executive’s estate will be entitled to receive (1) the Other Benefits and (2) immediately in a lump sum a pro-rata portion of the targeted Annual Incentive Bonus under Section 6.2 for the portio